Evaluating and knowing our voice

Evaluating and getting to know our voice is a fundamental step in improving our public speaking skills. By understanding how our voice sounds and how it is perceived by others, we can work on areas for improvement and use our strengths to communicate effectively. In this session, we will explore the importance of assessing and getting to know our voice, as well as some tools and techniques for conducting this assessment.

The importance of assessing our voice

Evaluating our voice allows us to identify our vocal strengths and weaknesses. By knowing how our voice sounds, we can adjust the quality, projection, intonation and rhythm to have a positive impact on our speech. In addition, voice evaluation helps us identify bad vocal habits or vices that could affect our communication. Self-assessment and external feedback are key elements in this process.

Voice recordings

An effective way to evaluate our voice is to record it and listen to it. We can use recorders or recording applications on our cell phones to record our voices during different communication situations, such as presentations, speeches or informal conversations. By listening to the recordings, we can assess the clarity, volume, intonation and fluency of our voice. We can also identify speech patterns, unnecessary pauses or any aspect that can be improved.

Observation of gestures and body language

In addition to auditory evaluation, it is important to observe our gestures and body language while we speak. Our gestures and postures can influence how our voice is perceived. For example, maintaining an upright posture and using appropriate gestures can help convey confidence and authority. Assessing our body language allows us to adjust our facial expression, hand movements and overall posture to improve the consistency between our verbal and nonverbal message.

Seek external feedback

In addition to self-assessment, it is valuable to seek external feedback on our voice. We can ask trusted people, such as friends, family members or colleagues, to give us honest feedback on our voice and communication style. We can also work with a voice coach or participate in public speaking groups where we receive constructive feedback from experts in the field. External feedback gives us an objective perspective and helps us identify areas for improvement that we may have overlooked.

Work on areas for improvement

Once we have evaluated our voice and received external feedback, we can begin to work on specific areas of improvement. This may include breath control, vocal projection, intonation modulation, clear articulation of words, or eliminating unnecessary crutches and pauses. By practicing specific exercises and techniques, we can develop and strengthen our vocal skills.

Exploring resources and tools

In addition to the techniques mentioned above, there are numerous resources and tools available to help us evaluate and improve our voice. We can explore online courses, books, video tutorials and mobile apps designed specifically for vocal development. These tools can provide practical exercises, step-by-step guides and examples of good diction and pronunciation to help us perfect our voice.